NUTRITIONAL AND MEDICINAL VALUES OF SELECTED WILD CUCURBITS AVAILABLE IN SIMILIPAL BIOSPHERE RESERVE FOREST, ODISHA

摘要

Cucurbitaceae commonly known as “Guard family” is distributed throughout India. Most of them, are perennial climbers with attractive flowers. The family includes plants having food as well as medicinal values. The species of the family are collectively known as cucurbits. They grow wild as well as cultivated throughout the state in Odisha in general and Similipal Biosphere Reserve (SBR) forest and its adjoining areas in particular. The major cucurbits available in SBR and its adjoining areas are Coccinia grandis L., Cucumis melo L., Lufa acutangula (L.) Roxb., Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem., Solena amplexicaulis Lam., Mukia madraspatana (L.) Roem., Trichosanthus cucumerina L., Trichosanthus tricuspidata Lour.and Diplocyclos palmatus (L.) Jeffrey. The food values of some of these cucurbits have been assessed. Phytochemical analysis and antibacterial activity of the plant parts have shown potent medicinal values. Present paper highlights the diversity of wild cucurbits (WC) at SBR along with their nutritional and medicinal importance.